Compliance Overview

What is compliance?
Compliance means abiding by applicable laws, regulations, and policies. In a university setting, compliance is less about regulating individual behavior than it is about understanding applicable regulatory requirements that apply to university activities as an institution and ensuring that we meet them. Because Oregon State engages in such a broad range of activities, the number and scope of applicable requirements is vast. That makes understanding them and complying with them a challenging, university-wide endeavor.

What role does a university compliance office serve?
Oregon State University operates in an increasingly complex regulatory environment, which requires us to sharpen our focus on accountability and ensure compliance with our legal and ethical responsibilities. Outside regulators and funding sources increasingly require that the university have an imbedded system in place to ensure that OSU understands its requirements and works to meet them. The creation of the Office of University Compliance demonstrates the university's commitment to meeting our legal and regulatory responsibilities, and fostering a culture that promotes ethical conduct.

What are the benefits of a university compliance office?
A university compliance office:

Solves problems by improving collaboration, and communication;

Reduces the risks of non-compliance, while increasing the likelihood of early detection

Fosters a university culture that does not tolerate illegal or unethical behavior and prompts faculty and staff to consider the potentially adverse consequences of unethical conduct and correction;

Provides a source of best practices and assistance for the entire university community.